Roller-skate



(No Model.)

: 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. M. O. HENLEY.

ROLLER SKATE;

Patented Apr.- 21, 1885.

I k x I W (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. M. 0. HENLEY.

ROLLER SKATE. No. 316,266. Patented Apr. 21, 1885 ATENT rrrca.

MICAJ AH CHARLES HENLEY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,266, dated April 21, 1885.

Application filed March 24, 1885. (No model.) Patented in Canada February 10, 1685, No. 21,069.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MIOAJAH CHARLES HENLEY, of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skates, of which the following'is a specification, and for which I have received Letters Patent in Canada, dated February 10, 1885, N 0. 21,069, for the term of fifteen years.

My invention relates to roller-skates; and it consists in certain improvements upon the construction for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date August 23, 1881, and numbered 245,950.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the complete skate; Figs. 2 and 3, respectively longitudinal and transverse sections through the truck-frame, show ing the spring and compression devices; Fig. 4, a view of the bearing plate and screw detached; and Figs. 5, 6, and 7, views illustrating a modification.

The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate the adjustment of the spring or cushion by which the roller-axles and the soleplates are caused to stand normally parallel, and to insure the retention of the adjusting devices in their proper positions when the skates are in use.

having two arms, a and b, the inner arm in each instance being longer than the outer one, and each being provided with an eye or perforation, c.

C indicates a truck-frame, consisting of a centralrectangular box or chamber, (1, from which two perforated ears, e 6, project outward and downward to receive the axle D, upon the ends of which are mounted the rollers E, as usual. The box or chamber portion of the truck-frame C is formed with a teat or stud, f, on the outer face, midway between the ends of the axle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in dottedlines in Fig. 3, and directly in line with the teat or stud f a hole or perforation, g, is formed in the opposite wall of the chamber d, which is thickened at that point.

The teat orstud f fits the perforation of the outer arm, I), of the hanger-frame B, and a bolt,'F, pressed inward by a spring-arm, G,

through the perforation of the inner arm, a,

of said frame, enters the hole or perforation g of I the truck-frame and locks said truck-frame in place, the bolt and the teat or stud thus forming journals, upon which the hanger-frame B may rock from side to side. By reason of the difference in length of the arms a and b of the frame B, the axis of the teat or stud and of the bolt is inclined relatively to the sole-plate A, which stands in a substantially horizontal plane, thus causing the well-known turning action of the truck-frames when in use.

Thus far the construction is similar to that of my former skate, with the exception of the box or chamber d of the roller-frame. Within said box orchamber is placed a block of rubber or other elastic cushion, H, slightly smaller than the interior of said chamber, as shown in Fig. 3, and above the box or cham her the hanger B is cut out to give room for a compression-screw, I, and a bearing-plate, J, which are shown in position in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and detached in Fig. 4. The plate J is transversely serrated, to cause it to gain a firm hold upon the rubber and prevent the latter from spreading out and bearing against.

the ends of the box or chamber (1, where it would interfere more or less with the rocking action of the frame. The screw I is of large diameter, and its threaded stem or shank h is arranged to screw into a hole or socket, t, in the hanger-frame B above the box or chamber d. The lower end of the screw is enlarged to form a boss or disk, j, which is shown of cylindrical form, and provided with cavities or perforations 70, but which may be polygonal,-to receive a wrench or other tool, or provided with lugs or projections for the same purpose. The boss'or disk j is formed with a central stud, Z, which enters a central hole or seat, m, in the plate J, and its lower face is IOO ties and projections may-be varied, and their arrangement may be reversed; but in every case the projections should be made conical or hemispherical, in order that they may ride into and out of the cavities with certainty and ease.

The plate J rests directly upon the cushion or spring, and the disk or boss j bears upon the top of the plate J, the plate being retained in proper relative position by the stud Z,- hence by turning the screw downward the plate will be caused to press more firmly upon the cushion H and to compress it, thereby causing it to offer greater resistance to the rocking motion of frame B upon the studf and bolt I the inner wall of the box or chamber cl being raised sufliciently to prevent the turning of the plate with the screw. The elasticity and consequent pressure of cushion'H, hold the plate J up firmly against the disk or boss j, which latter is made wide enough to give a wide bearing for and prevent the rocking of the plate, and being thus held up the projections 0 are held in the cavities 11, and the screw I is thereby prevented from working back and varying the compression of the cushion. The elasticity of the cushion, however, permits the plate to yield and move downward when any considerable force is applied to turn the screw I, which is conveniently done by inserting a wire or rod into one of the holes of the boss j and moving it laterally. The beveled or curved faces of the cavities a ride over the projections 0 and force the plate down, overcoming the resistance of the cush- 101].

By this construction and arrangement I am enabled readily and accurately to adjust the resistance of the cushion, the boss j of the screw being accessible from the sides of frame B without previous adjustment of any other part, and, if desired,while the skate is fastened upon the shoe of a skater.

It will be observed that this construction avoids any change in the inclination of the axes on which the frames B rock; that there is no cutting of the cushion, and that said cushion is prevented from spreading laterally to any considerable extenta difficulty which has interfered greatly with the variation of resistance of the cushion.

It is important that the threaded stem be made to screw into the frame B instead of employing a fixed stem and a nut or disk screwed thereon, as the plan here described presents no obstacle to the free rise of the rubber when the pressure is diminished, besides being (heaper and easier to make, and affording greater range of adjustment.

Stop-shouldersp are formed upon one of the arms, a or b, against which the truck frame strikes to limit the rocking motion.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown the box or chamber d as formed with or in the under side of the plate J, the upper face of the truckframe being in such case serrated instead of the plate. When this construction is adopted, the box is provided with slots q q, to permit it to pass down over the journals F f of the truck-frame, and the journal f is shouldered to limit its passage into the eye 0. In all other respects the construction will remain as explained.

It is of course understood that one complete hanger and truck frame, with rollers, cushion, and adjusting devices, is placed at each end of the sole-plate, as usual.

I do not in this application claim, broadly, the combination, with the sole-plate, of a hanger-frame, a truck-frame pivotally connected therewith, an elastic cushion supported by the truck-frame, and a compression-screw having an enlarged head bearing upon a plate resting upon the upper face of the cushion, and a threaded stem rising from the upper face of said head and seated in a threaded socket in the hanger frame above said head, as that forms the subject-matter of a separate application filed by me, and of which this case is a division, said separate application bearing date October 30, 1884, and being designated by Serial No. 146,796.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim is 1. In a roller-skate, the combination, with a so1e-plate, of a hanger-frame, a truck pivotally connected therewith, a rubber cushion supported upon the roller-frame, a compression-screw above the cushion, and a plate interposed between the screw and the cushion, provided with a central socket to receive a projection on the screw, and serrated on its under face,whereby itis caused to protect the cushion from wear and prevent undue lateral expansion thereof.

2. In combination with sole-plate A and hanger-frame B, secured thereto, truck-frame C, pivotally connected with the hanger, cushion H, supported by the truck-frame, serrated plate J, provided with central recess, m, and screw I, provided with boss j and stud Z, the inner end of said screw being seated in a threaded socket in the frame B, the stud Zextending into a recess in the plate J, and the boss j bearing upon said plate, all substantially as described and shown.

3. The combination, in a roller'skate, of a hanger-frame, a truck-frame, an elastic cushion, a compression-screw, and a plate interposed between the screw and the cushion, and serrated on the face, which rests upon the latter to prevent the lateral spreading of the cushion.

4. In a roller-skate, the combination of a hanger-frame, B, truck-frame 0, formed with a box or chamber, d, and pivotally connected to frame B, an elastic cushion, H, seated within said box or chamber, a serrated plate, J, resting upon said cushion, and a screw, I, provided with a boss or enlargement, j, and screwing into a socket in frame B above the plate and cushion.

5. In a roller-skate, the combination, with the hanger-frame and truck-frame, of an elastic cushion supported by the truck-frame, a bearing-plate resting upon said cushion, and

5 a compression-screw having a threaded stern screwing into a socket in the hanger, and provided with a boss or disk at its lower end to bear upon the plate, said disk and plate being provided, respectively, with shallow de- 10 pressions and-slight projections to lock the boss against accidental turning.

6. In a roller-skate, the combination, with a sole-plate, of a hanger-frame secured thereto, a truck-frame pivotally connected to said hanger-frame, an elastic cushion supported 15 upon the truck-frame, a bearing-plate resting upon the cushion, and a compression-screw above and resting upon the plate, one of the bearing-faces in contact with the cushion being serrated to preventvundue spreading 20 thereof.

MIGAJAH CHARLES HENLEY.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN S. STRATTAN, HENRY U. J oHNsoN. 

